Car-top boat loader and carrier



Feb. 23, 1965 w. H. MEYER CAR-TOP BOAT LOADER AND CARRIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 15, 1961 m. m 1 M H m m W s. mm 3m 2m N mm N w mm 00 .VN N B j N O 8 N To; om Q 8 MK \mi i Q mm .P ow on m m C C m m 0m 0m 2 Feb. 23, 1965 WYLHLMEYERZ CAR-TOP BOAT. LiOADER AND; CARRIER Filed Sept. 15. 1961 N-QE Feb. 23, 1965 w. H. MEYER 3,170,583

CAR-TOP BOAT LOADER AND CARRIER Filed Sept. 15, 1961 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR,

Walter H. Meyer United States Patent 3,17 9,583 CAR-TOP BOAT LOADER AND CARRIER Walter H. Meyer, 730 E. Bridgeport, Spokane, Wash. Filed Sept. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 138,377 Claims. (Cl. 214-450) My present invention relates broadly to conveying means and particularly to a car-top carrier.

The use of boats and analogous equipment is prevalent in the United States where there are boats of varying sizes owned by families and transported from home to public and private waters for sport recreation.

Many boats are carried upon trailers. Often a boat is loaded and unloaded with respect to a trailer while in the water. The loaded boat-trailer is then drawn from the water by the towing vehicle. However, many other boats, predominantly of the smaller light-weight classificacation, are carried upon carriers upon the top of a vehicle to preclude the necessity of drawing a trailer. While this mode of transporting boats is highly desirable, there are certain drawbacks to so doing not the least of which is the physical effort required to load and unload the boat with respect to the carrier.

There are a few combined loaders and carriers but to my knowledge each of these requires considerable physi- 3,179,583 Patented Feb. 23, 1965" FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the car-top boat loader and carrier taken substantially on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIGURE 1 but omitting the boat, and vehicle;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation partially broken away for convenience of illustration and showing the car-top boat loader and carrier with its floating frame in the unloading position;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary view partially in section and upon an enlarged scale and detailing an adjustable support; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated at line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

Having reference to the drawings now in greater detail, I have shown a conventional automobile 10, which includes mobilizing wheels W and conventional front and rear bumpers 12 and showing one of a number of body styles 13.

Above the roof 14 the body 13 supports a first frame 16 which includes a laterally spaced pair of longitudinally extending tubular rails 18-18 which have their front and rear terminal portions 20-20 bent downwardly and externally threaded at 22. Internally threaded sleeves 24 a car-top boat loader and carrier which requires a minimum amount of physical effort to be expended upon the part of the person loading or unloading the boat toor from the car-top carrier.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a car-top carrier having a unique fixed frame upon which the lading may be supported.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a boat loader and carrier which is adjustable and adaptable to be mounted upon various automobiles having different body configurations, within limits.

Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a car-top loader and carrier which has a first frame fixed to the body of the automobile and a floating frame constituting a cradle fora boat which floating frame is provided with powered means for mounting a boat on the cradle and also means for shifting the floating frame alternately between the loaded position and the unloading position.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent during the course of the following specification when considered in conjunction wtih the accompanying drawings where a preferred physical'embodiment of the present'invention is disclosed.

It is to be understood however that the drawing are exemplifying only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention beyond that expressly stated in the appended claims and as required by the prior art.

Throughout the several views of the drawings like numerals are employedto designate like parts and:

FIGURE l'lS a vertical side elevation of a vehicle supporting the improved boat loader and carrier and having aboat mounted thereon; f

FIGURE 2 is a lateral fragmentary cross section taken URE 1, but omitting the boat;

are threadedly engaged upon the threads 22 of the terminal end portions 20 and by means of relative rotation are adjusted so that the lower feet 26, which are associated with the sleeves by means of ball and socket joints 27, may be adjusted to rest upon the body 13 of the vehicle 10 and support the device. A lock nut 28 is provided to secure the relative position of each sleeve 24 upon its terminal end portions 20.

Means such as rigid cross members 30 are welded or otherwise secured to the side rails 18, thus forming a rigid unitary first frame 16 mounted above the roof 14 of the vehicle 10. Plural additional supports 32 carry the rails 18 at spaced locations as needed and/or desired. As is conventional, straps 34 may be employedto secure the carrier to a rain trough or lateral edge 36 of the roof 14.

Each of the rails 18 is provided with plural rollers.38 in a common vertical plane to support and mobilize the floating frame 40, which is providedwith rubber rollers 42 arranged in a conventional manner to form a cradle 45 for supporting the boat B having an outboard motor M secured to the transom T thereof. Y

The floating frame 40 also has a pair of side rails 44 44 which are coincident to the side rails 18 of the first frame 16 and which are angular in cross section as particularly seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings. Vertical flanges 43 guide the movements of the frame 40 while horizontally extending flanges 46 are adapted to rest upon the rollers 38 and thus mobilize frame 40 formovements longitudinally of the vehicle. Rails 44 are rigidly united by means of the bars 48, which journal the rollers 42 forming the cradle .for the boat. 1 V

As seen in FIGURES 1 and 3 of the drawings, the floating frame 40 is shaped to conform somewhat to the'configuration of the prow of the boat andhas a cable sheave 50 at the forward end thereof. There is also an idler pulley 52 secured to the frame to guide the movements of the boat loading an d unloading cable 54-which is woun d about 'a hand-operated winch T56 mounted upon and carried bythe floating'frame 4G." The, cable 54 is 'reeved to effect loading and unloading of a'b'oat by winding and un winding the cable with the winch 56. The hook 58 is ape plied in-the, eye 6tlon the-Zboat and as the winch .56 is operated to unwind the cable 54-, the boat may be re-.

moved rearwardly from the floating frame 40; As the Winch is operated in the opposite direction, the boat is drawn onto the floating frame. 40 until it comes into its position of rest on the cradle 45, comprising all of the 'rollers 42 in their relative positions.

A second winch 62 is welded or otherwise secured at 64 to the floating frame 40 and has its cable reeved to etfect forward movement of the floating frame 40 and control rearward movement thereof by passing forwardly around a pair of laterally disposed idlcrs 63 journaled on 7' the first frame 1 6-and thence rearwardly to the point 70 1 where it is secured to the floating frame 40.

Journal bar 72 is secured at the rearward end of the floating frame 40 and pivotally mounts the upper ends of brace bars '74 which extend downwardly to a journal 76 where they pivotally associate with'the vehicle body 13.

The journals 76 are seen to have clamps '78 which secure side.

Sleeves 80 are welded or otherwise secured at the rearward ends of the side rails 44 and receive reciprocal arms 82 which carry a cross shaft 48a to which a roller 42 is mounted. Means such as pins 84 and aligned apertures 86 and 87 inthe sleeve 80 and reciprocal arms 82 provide for adjustments of the rearward roller 42 from the positionshown in FIGURES 1, 3 and 6 to thepositionshown in FIGURE 4.

- In operation the vehicle it) is backed to theedge of the body of water 11 or to the incline of a beach13 and the winch .62 is operatedto unwind its cable 66, while rearaward pressure is appliedto the floating frame 40. After the brace bars 74 pass over center, the Weight of the boat and floating frame will cause it to move by gravity to the unloading position shown in FEGURE 4. This movement is controlled by the speed of rotation permitted by the'winchr 62; -When the floating frame is lowered as much as desired, the which 56 is operated to release cable "54 thus allowing the boat B to move by gravity from the boat loa'derand carrier into the water 1-1 or onto the beach 13. 1 'When the boat isremoved on the beach and will not float away from the carrier, the vehicle may be driven forwardly to lower the keel to the beach level preparatory v to sliding the boatinto the water. V

In loading the boat B the opposite sequence is-used.

wherein the cable 54 is hooked into the eye .60andthe cable '54 is Wound in by means of the winch "56, thus draw ing the boat onto the floating frame 40. Then the winch 62 is'actuated to draw the-floating frame 40 to the load carrying position shown inFIGURE l. Thus-it willbe seenthat the physical labor required is limited to the operation of the -winche s, which,it is con 'templated, maybe electrified if desired.- d

Wh'atI desire-to secure; by Letters Patent of the United States is thefollowingj V j '1 I i .1. 'Acar-top boat loader and carrier, comprising: a first frameada'pted' to be removably fixed upon a car and hav-. ing substantiallyparallel side rails with terminal end por-v .tions; the terminal end .portionsofsaid side rails being I -jangled downwardly for support upon theautomobile body at. pointsremoved from the roof a floating frame adapted to receivela boat and havingsideirails associated with said first named side; jrails for relative rectilinear movements oi-said floating frame; means ,gn said firstframefor selectively moving said 'floatingframe. between a loaded position'and/an unloading position, andlother means inde V that/ ehicle body;

stantially parallel side rails withvdown-turned terminal 7 end portions constituting supporting legs for resting upon an automobile body at points removed from the roof thereof, selectively adjustable feet on the ends of said terminal end portions for adjusting to and resting upon a car body; a floating frame adapted to receive a boat and'having side rails associated with said first-named rails for rectilinear movements of said floating frame between a loaded position and an unloading positionymeans for selectively moving said floating frame into said positions alternately, and means for loading and unloading a boat with respect to said floating frame.

3. A car-top boat loader and carrier, comprising: a first frame having laterally spaced rigidly interconnected tubular parallel siderails for support upon the body of a vehicle at points removed from its roof; a series of rollers journaled on each rail in a vertical plane; a'floating frame constituting a boat cradle and having rigidly interconnecting angular parallel side rails mounted upon said rollers for rectilinear movements of said floating'frame with respect to said first frame; a rigid support bar pivotally connected to said floating frame at its rearward end for pivotally securing to' a vehicle body to effect arcuate movements in a vertical plane of the rearward end of said floating frame during rectilinear movements oflts forward end with respect to said first frameg'a cable winch on said first frame and having its cable reeved toeifectforward movement of 'saidfloating frame and control rearward movement thereof; and a cable winch on said floating frame and having its cable reeved to effect loading a boat thereon and control removal of a boat therefrom. 4. A car-top boat loader and carrier, comprising: a first framehaving laterally spaced rigidly intercon v nected tubular parallel side rails for horizontal disposition over the roof of a conventional automobile longitudinally parallel thereto;- terminal end portions on said rails angled: downwardly and adaptedto be supported upon the-fenders of said i automobile;v V I means for releasably securing said frame to said automobile; 7

a floating frame adapted to receive a boat and carriedby said firstframe for movements between a loaded 1 position above said automobile and an unloading position at an end thereof; j l first'means mounted upon said firstframe for effecting movements of saidsecond fram'e to said'loaded and unloading positions alternately and according to 7 manual selection; and f i i othermeans independentof said first means for loading and unloadinga boatwith respect to said floating frame when in substantially itsunloading position.

5. A boat loader and carrier, comprising:

a .vehiclejhaving a body; i

a first frame having substantially parallel siderailsextfrom the roof;

3 afloatingframe constituting a boat cradlear'id having;

its forward portion supported on saidfirst framefor rectilinear movementsrelativethereto;l V i vrigid support bar pivotally connected to said floating frame'and said vehiclezbody at their rearward ends and; supporting theiirearwarcl end ofL-said floating frame,wwherebyto-efiect arcuate movement 'of the rearward end of -said float frame a vertical plane during rectilinear movements of -its-forward-end,

thus-maintaining separation lof the floatJfranie' and tending horizontally over; the top of said vehicle; and v adjustable means on saidiframe fittingsaid body andc supporting said: rails on theZ-body at points removed means for selectively moving said floating frame; and other means for loading and unloading a boat with respect to said floating frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,567,104 9/51 Di Fonzo 214450 2,715,974 8/55 Van Nest 214450 2,765,940 10/56 Nelson 214-450 3,048,291 8/62 Mabry 214-450 6 2,937,775 5/60 Funk 214-505 3,048,291 8/62 Mabry 214-450 3,058,636 10/62 Bilbeisi 214-450 X FOREIGN PATENTS 391,325 4/33 Great Britain.

633,774 12/49 Great Britain.

HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examiner.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Examiner. 

1. A CAR-TOP BOAT LOADER AND CARRIER, COMPRISING: A FIRST FRAME ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY FIXED UPON A CAR AND HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SIDE RAILS WITH TERMINAL END PORTIONS; THE TERMINAL END PORTIONS OF SAID SIDE RAILS BEING ANGLED DOWNWARDLY FOR SUPPORT UPON THE AUTOMOBILE BODY AT POINTS REMOVED FROM THE ROOF; A FLOATING FRAME ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A BOAT AND HAVING SIDE RAILS ASSOCIATED WITH SAID FIRST-NAMED SIDE RAILS FOR RELATIVE RECTILINEAR MOVEMENTS OF SAID FLOATING FRAME; MEANS ON SAID FIRST FRAME FOR SELECTIVELY MOVING SAID FLOATING FRAME BETWEEN A LOADED POSITION AND AN UNLOADING POSITION, AND OTHER MEANS INDEPENDENT OF SAID FIRST MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY LOADING AND UNLOADING A BOAT WITH RESPECT TO SAID FLOATING FRAME. 